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Aviation History
1939
1939 - 1633.PDF
538 ffljN&R MAY 25, 1939 SOME 'HEADS" of BLACKBURN AIRCRAFT E. HUDSON, F.C I.S., director. W. W. MacARTHUR, M.I.Mech.E., M.I.P.EM general works manager. W. D. MURRAY. A.F.R.Ae.S„ deputy chief engineer. G. E. PETTY, F.R.Ae.S., chief designer. Major J. D. RENNIE, F.R.Ae.S., A.R.T.C, A.M.I.C.E., chief seaplane designer. H. J. STIEGER, Fit. Lt. H. BAILEY, J. HALL, D I.C., A.F.R.Ae.S., A.M.I.C.E., A.F.R.Ae.S., production designer, chief of research and development. chief test pilot. D. B. NIVISON, M.I.P.E., H. O. LEVICK, works manager. experimental-works manager. 5 WALKER, A.M.I.Mech.E., chief plant engineer. A McCULLOCH, M.I E.I., chief inspector. F. W. BUGLASS, chief production engineer. J. T. ORMEROD, chief jig and tool designer. V. S. GAUNT, F.R.Ae.S., A.M.I.P.E., night works manager. modern arrester gear was not then available, and provision was consequently made for land ing on a pair of skids, the wheels of the undercarriage being dropped. It was also thought that if the machine should be forced to alight on the sea the skids would not be so likely to trip it up as would the wheels. The engine fitted in the Blackburd was the Rolls-Royce Eagle of 350 h.p. With this engine the machine had a speed of 95 m.p.h. Mention has been made of the fact that during the war period the Blackburn company built numerous machines of other firms' design. In addition to Sopwith Baby sea planes and B.E.2 Cs, the company also took over the com pletion of the Sopwith Cuckoo design and its subsequent construction. Altogether, 80 of these machines were built by the Blackburn firm. The engine was a 200 h.p. Hispano-Suiza, and, in view of the great load to be lifted (an i8in. torpedo), the wing span was large, and a three- bay biplane arrangement was used. T. BANCROFT, chief ground engineer. After the war the Blackburn Company began to interest itself in civil aviation. The first step was to convert a number of Kangaroos into commercial aeroplanes, and a beginning was made in connection with the E.L.T.A. Aero Show at Amsterdam in 1919, when many passengers were carried. A Blackburn Kangaroo left Houns low on November 21, 1919, on the England - Australia race flight. The North Sea Aerial Navigation Company was formed as an offshoot of the Blackburn Company to look- after the commercial aviation side, and among its other activities may be mentioned a survey of the England-to- South Africa air route. While mainly interested in the commercial side of avia tion, the firm did not lose sight of the sporting side, and in 1920 was produced the little Blackburn Sidecar, a small side-by-side monoplane with 40 h.p. A.B.C. Gnat engine. Returning to the war craft side we may observe that the Blackburn Company merits particular praise for the Sqn.Ldr. A.A.LOTON, A.F.C chief instructor.
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